Children are the dardest things...

It is another week in December. The first week of a new term coming on to my umpteenth Christmas away from home. This week I have been plagued by recurring students, some of whom I have had in class for almost a year now. This is good in that I can really direct their progress over a concerted amount of time and I can also enjoy watching how far they have come along. It is bad in that they know all of my tricks and jokes nd I have had to, much like madonna, continually re-invent myself. Unfortunately, I do not have the assistance of makeup or hair support staff so I have to rely on cheap gimmicks.

As strange as I may seem to them, they are just as freaky to me. For example, I have always wondered why, whenever I say hello or wave to them, they shake their heads at me. I find it mildly offensive but never really acted on it until this week when I asked them; "Why are you negating my greetings", or in teacherspeak..."why are you so wierd when I say hello, why do you do that?!? Huh!? Speak I say you!".

After the chorus of giggles and mockery subsided, it was impatiently explained to me that it was their way of saying hi back. They were shaking their heads instead of their hands. "So, you're all just too lazy to say hi then" I asked. "Yes!" was the resounding answer.

Maybe this term I will also learn why the students cover their pencil cases with meaningless stickers (full cases, and they still have to borrow pencils and erasers off of me), and why they like to make mini sculptors out of eraser bits, and why the word "poo" is so damn funny!